Fence-stretcher.



L. TREELAN D. FENCE STRETCHER. APPLICATION FILED MAR- :9, 1915.

1,167,136. Patented Jan. 4, 1916.

' .FJAZ a WITNESSES:

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LEWIS TBEELAND, or MOVILLE, Iowa, ASSIGNOR To J. rHIcKs, or sun. oLoUD, MINNESOTA.

FENCE-STRETCHER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented J an. 4, 1916.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, Lnwis TREELAND, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Moville, in the county of VVoodbury and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to means for stretching wire fencing.

The invention has for its primary object the production of an improved device for stretching wire.

Another object of the invention is the production of a device of this class requiring very little power to operate and adapted to hold all the slack without the use of ratchet and pawl mechanism.

A further object of the invention is the construction of a fence-stretcher embodying certain novel features adapting it for instant and secure adjustment.

A still further object is the construction of a device of this class inexpensive in manufacture and highly efficient in operation.

With these and other objects in view, the invention, consisting in the construction, combination and novel arrangement of parts, will be fully understood from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings which form a part of this application and in which like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views, of which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a fencestretcher constructed in accordance with the invention and applied to a fence; Fig. 2 is a plan-of the same; Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of. the gearing; Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the same; and Fig. 5 is an elevation of the upper end of the postengaging frame member.

Although I have illustrated and hereinafter described the preferred embodiment of the invention, I would not be understood as being limited to the specific structure chosen for illustration, for various alterations and modifications in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Referring now to the illustrations, the

through the frame comprises upwardlydnclined side members, 6 and 7 interconnected by suitable cross members, 8. The lower ends of the side members are chamfered, as at 9, and are covered by cross members, 10, either of which may rest upon the ground, according as which direction the device is inclined. The side member 6 is somewhat longer than its companion, and its uppermost end is chamfered, as at 11, to embrace the fencepost, 12, and is provided with studs, .13, adapted to engage the post and prevent lateral displacement of the upper end of the frame. A supporting leg, 14, is pivotally secured to the upper, end of the side member 7, as at 15.

For use upon metal and concrete posts, clamp-straps, 16, may be provided to secure the frame to the post. The straps are removably secured to the end of the side members 7 by a bolt, 17 and thumb-nut, 18, embrace opposite sides of the post and are firmly clamped thereto by a bolt, 19, passing through the free ends of the straps.

20 is a transverse shaft journaled in bearing openings, 21, in the side members and protruding through a plate, 22, secured by bolts, 23, to the outer side of the side memher 6. The said shaft carries on its end a worm-wheel, 24, intermeshed with a worm, 25, mounted on, and secured by a'pin, 26, to the shank, 27, of a crank, 28. The said shank is journaled in bearings, 29, formed integrally with the plate 22. A collar, 30, encircling he shaft 20 adjacent the inner side of the side member 6 prevents longitudinal movement of the shaft. 31 is an eye-bolt extending transversely shaft 20 and having secured thereto a rope, or cable, 32, the opposite end of which is secured to a hook, 33, adapted to engage the intermediate portion of a chain, 34, the ends of which are provided with suitable hooks, 35, to engage the fencing, 36. The device may be fac'ed'in the opposite direction by first withdrawing the pin 26 and removing the crank. The device may then be inclined in the opposite direction and the crank inserted in the opposite end of the worm from which it was removed.

By use of the structure now disclosed it is evident great tractive power may be applied to the fence by applying comparatively little power upon the crank; and it is also apparent that the Worm gear Will prevent retrograde movement of the fencing.

lfaving thus described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,

l. A fence-stretcher comprising a frame including parallel inclined side members, the upper end of one of said members being engageable with a. fence-post, and a support ing leg for the upper end of the other of said members, and means for stretching the fencing including a horizontal shaft mounted rotatably in the frame and having a Worm-Wheel secured thereon, a crank-operated Worm mounted on the frame to drive the Worm-Wheeh and a flexible link adapted to be secured to the fencing and Wound upon the shaft.

2. A reversible fence-stretcher comprising a frame including parallel side members adapted to be inclined in either direction, the upper end of one of said members being adapted to engage a fence-post, and a supporting leg pivotally secured to the upper end of the other of said members and means for stretching the fencing including a horizontal shaft rotatably mounted in the frame, a flexible link adapted to be secured to the fencing and Wound upon the shaft, and means for rotating the shaft.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

M. S. CRANDALL, W'. L. SEDGWICK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patent? Washington, D. C. 

